PLACE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE, SCRUTINY REVIEW OF LOCAL SPEED LIMIT POLICY – ACTION PLAN
SCRUTINY RECOMMENDATION		DIRECTOR’S RESPONSE AND ACTION PLAN	TIMESCALE	6 MONTH UPDATE
R1.	The Board recommends that the Council regularly reviews Policy PS05/02 Local Speed Limits when there is a change in national guidance.	The Department recognises the importance of Policy PS05/02 aligning with national guidance. The department already reviews the Policy when there is a change in guidance and will continue to do so.	Ongoing - following a change in guidance	Ongoing - There have been no changes in relevant government guidance over the past 6 months. Once the new Government Road Safety Strategy is published this Autumn, we will review the policy and any associated guidance to consider whether any amendments are required.
R2.	The Board recommends that the ESCC website pages are updated to provide clearer information on the purpose of local, county wide speed limits and the wider policy context they are applied in.	The Department welcomes this recommendation and will review existing webpages to include clear information on the purpose of speed limits and policy context.  In doing so, it is hoped that this will help local communities to gain a better understanding of how requests for changes to speed limits are considered, and the likelihood of any such requests being successful.	6 months	A review of the webpages has concluded.  This incorporates recommendations R 2,4,5, 6 and 7.  The following web pages are currently being updated and will go live early October: 1) The purpose of speed limits (R2) 2) A step by step process of how we assess requests for new speed limits, including the length of time it can take (R4, R5) 3) LTP4 Prioritisation (R4, R5) – approved at the LMTE in September 4) Case studies with images of different speed limits (R5) 5) Speed limit enquiry page (R6) 6) Information on Community Speed Watch (R7)
R3.	The Board recommends that officers review the speed limit assessment process and criteria that other local authorities have introduced to manage demand, to identify any potential efficiencies in officer time.	The Department receives a high number of requests from communities who wish to see lower speed limits in their area. Due to finite funding, these requests need to be prioritised so that we continue to deliver the schemes that are of the greatest benefit to the community. The Department agrees with this recommendation and will undertake a review of the current assessment process to identify potential efficiencies in officer time.	12 months	Officers recognise that requests received from our communities are a high priority to them. The updated webpages will provide greater clarity to communities on the process for assessing speed limits and the criteria with which speed limits are assessed. The development and delivery of small to medium scale local transport and road safety schemes will be assessed against the outcomes that support the six objectives of LTP4.  These objectives are: Deliver safer and accessible journeys. Support healthier lifestyles and communities. Decarbonise transport. Conserve and enhance our local environment. Support sustainable economic growth. Strengthen the resilience of our transport networks. Teams across ESCC, including the Road Safety team have contributed to the development of LTP4 assessment process, including requests for lower speed limits, which was considered at the September meeting.
R4.	The Board recommends that the Council introduces a step-by-step process and guide for changes to local speed limits.	The Department agrees with this recommendation.  The review of the website being undertaken under R2 will include a step-by-step process guide. In doing so, it is hoped that this will help local communities to gain a better understanding of how requests for changes to speed limits are considered, and the likelihood of any requests being successful.	6 months	As R2 – this has been undertaken as part of the web page review
R5.	The Board recommends: 1) A review is undertaken on the information provided to local communities, including Parish Councils; and 2) Information is provided on the Road Safety section on the ESCC website, including case studies, on the potential cost of designing and implementing signed only speed limits and also speed limit schemes where traffic calming is required. In addition, information is provided on the length of time it can take to deliver speed limit schemes.	Whilst the Community Match pages of the ESCC website already contains detailed case studies on the costs of schemes, the Department agrees that it would be beneficial to set out case studies relating to speed limit requests. The review of the website being undertaken under R2 will include a case studies, costs and information on the length of time it takes to deliver speed limit schemes.	6 months	Regarding 1) A new Parish Council toolkit will be developed which is very closely based on the Cllr Toolkit. Regarding 2) As R2 - incorporated into web page review
R6.	The Board recommends that officers refresh the information on speed limits on the ESCC website pages and create a speed limit change enquiry page.	The Department agrees with this recommendation. The review of the website being undertaken under R2 will include a dedicated speed limit enquiry page.	6 months	As R2- this will be incorporated into the updated road safety webpages.
R7.	The Board recommends that the Council considers whether additional communication materials are required that: 1) Outline the Council’s approach to assessing local speed limits and the prioritisation process to help local communities understand the types of speed reduction measures that might be possible; 2) Explain that potential schemes that meet our policy, but are not currently a priority for the County Council, may be implemented if externally funded and delivered through the Community Match programme or a Section 278 agreement; and 3) Assist with the recruitment of volunteers to local Community Speed Watch groups (e.g. through Parish and Town Councils).	The Department acknowledges the Board’s concern that not everyone is able to access the ESCC website to find information and will carry out a review of whether additional communications are required. The Department also notes the Board’s view on the importance of Community Speed Watch and notes the challenges Sussex Police face in recruiting volunteers for this scheme.    The Department will review whether additional communications are required to assist the Police in recruiting volunteers to the Community Speed Watch initiative.	6 months Community Speed watch is discussed in monthly meetings with Sussex Police.	Regarding 1) The Cllr Road Safety Toolkit has been updated and a new a Parish Council toolkit will be shared with all Parish Councils in October. Regarding 2) The updated Cllr toolkit will provide information on how to access funding, including S278.  Regarding 3) Where the team receive concerns from the community regarding speeding issues, our responses now include further details to promote Community Speed Watch, including details of how to get involved.   This information has also been included in the Councillor and Parish Council Toolkit.